Sidelights on Rugby

Northern Advocate, 13 August 1913, Page 3

Sidelights on Rugby

By REV. W. B. SCOTT

(Sole Selector Wanganui Rugby

Tnion.)

We have reached the dying hours of the Rugby season. The "flannelled fool" will be taking the place of

the "muddied oaf" and th? air will no longe _\ r<:-v-rberate with the

sound (•■L'.J'V- bva-racker. I imagine thar- us> y ->vill feel like myself. I looked ron.vurd to the opening of the football season with keen expectancy but by this time my spare moments ought to be spent in my garden, so I am as eager for the season to close as I was for it to commence.

Last Saturday I journeyed with our team to Waverley to meet the Wairoa sub-union representative team. This is a new district formed north end of Wanganui district"' and the south end of Taranaki district. A good .deal of interest was taken in this match and the number of my grey hairs were visibly increased because of my inability, as selector, in getting a really representative team away. O ye brother selectors: Fancy a representative team, of which nine members are emergencies! We looked for a good bouncing as the Wairoa team comprised more than one exTaranaki representative. We held a council of war and on my advice it was decided to make the game spectacular by throwing the ball about. I have always advocated this system but through only being a parson my advice was evidently not reckoned of much account. Our team averaged 21 years of age and no back tipped the balance at 11 stone. As they took the field they looked like schoolboys compared with Wairoa. The ground was heavy and the ball greasy. Everything was in favour otV a-forward game and Wairoa set out to make it such, but Wanganui were not having any. The ball was thrown about to good purpose and Wanganui ran out winners by 17 to 5. Although their team was beaten the Waverley spectators left the field well satisfied with the display they had witnessed. Wanganui are now eager to meet Awarua next Saturday in order to employ the same tactics which they have proved to work so well.

1 have mentioned this at length in order to show what I have always strenuously maintained, that it is possible to make Rugby the most attractive of winter games. Yet certain customs suitable to a by-gone day have to a great extent remained with the game. With many teams there is no idea of taking risks. If our team had not felt themselves to

w in a parlous condition, and were He re fore reckless, they would have taken no risks and would no doubt have been defeated as in a forward game on a heavy ground Wairoa would have run over them. There is far too much finding the line instead of keeping the ball in play and there is too much footwork and too little hand work in an ordinary match to make it sufficiently interesting.

If any representative matches are on the tapis up your way, and if there is a team which appears to be on the weak side—more especially if it is a light team —then "sling the ball about" and you will be surprised at the result. After ten minutes of short runs and quick passes your team —as Wanganui did—will gain confidence and will take a savage delight in mesmerising the opponents' by the seemingly reckless way in which the ball is passed from man to man. It will also give intense joy to the crowd who will feel that vfcfcey are getting enough thrills to compensate them for the entrance fee at the gate.

In carrying out passing rushes one or two things need to be borne in mind. (J). While passing may seem to be reckles, let there be a method. Do not pass blindly, but see that the ball goes in the direction of one of your men. (2). Endeavour to run straight. Better a short run and a quick pass than a long run across field, no progress and a mulled pass. (3). In passing let it lie quick,but not too hard if your colleague is close handy. Aim about the height of his elbow and let it get away cleanly. (4). Avoid the overhand or "lob" pass. It is most dangerous as it gives the opportunity for a

smart opponent to cut in and intercept and thus turn an attack into a rout and a victory into a tragedy.

j This is the period of the year when in the play-off or finals, referees will 1 need to have a firm hand and a thorough grip of the game and tlie rule book. When a championship is in the balance the players and spectators are apt to get out of hand. I have just read the account of the Auckland match, City v Marists Brothers. The game had almost finished. The result of the match on the adjoining field had given City the championship if they drew with the Brothers. Almost on the call of time City's goal line was crossed and Dennehey scored. Oh! What fun! The crowd took possession and no attempt, was made to kick a goal. I anticipate the game will have to be replayed, but it is an illustration of what may happen when a championship is at stake. When controlling a final I always breath a sigh of relief when such a game is over, as one' never knows when the mine, over which he js playing, will blow up. It I is one of the incidents of the game.